Editing Unimog (section)

==== 1945 – First prototype ====
[[File:Unimog_Logo_urspruenglich.svg|thumb|upright|Original Boehringer-era logo from the 1940's]]

Originally, the Unimog was developed in post-war Germany to be used as agricultural equipment. It was designed with equal-sized wheels, a mounting bracket in front, a hitch in the rear, and loading space in the center. This was to make it a multi-purpose vehicle that farmers could use in the field and on the highway.<ref name=Nellinger />{{rp|7}}
Albert Friedrich was granted permission to develop the Unimog in November 1945,<ref name=Vogler_2015 />{{rp|6}} and entered a production agreement with Erhard und Söhne (Erhard and Sons) in [[Schwäbisch Gmünd]] on 1 December 1945.<ref name=Nellinger />{{rp|7}} Development began on 1 January 1946. Soon after, Heinrich Rößler, the Unimog lead designer, joined the development team. The first prototype was ready by the end of 1946. The early prototypes were equipped with the [[Mercedes-Benz M136 engine|M 136]] [[Otto cycle|Otto engine]], because the development of the [[Mercedes-Benz OM636 engine|OM 636]] [[Diesel engine]] had not been finished.<ref name=Vogler_2015 />{{rp|13}} The prototypes were similar to the later series production models. The original track width of {{Convert|1.270|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} was equivalent to two potato rows.<ref name=Nellinger />{{rp|8}}